Showaddywaddy drummer donates to charity after 'stolen' merchandise found

Romeo Challenger travelled to Beeston to visit shop manager Penny Bailey

The drummer from rock 'n' roll band Showaddywaddy has donated money to a charity shop that unearthed some of the band's "stolen" merchandise.

Romeo Challenger, 73, said £2,000 of stock was taken during a tour in 2022.

He said he had "written off" the clothing, before his wife spotted some for sale on eBay, tracing it back to The Salvation Army shop in Beeston.

The shirts were returned to the band, who sold them at a recent show, before donating the proceeds to the store.

Mr Challenger, who lives in Loughborough, Leicestershire, is the only remaining member of the original line up of Showaddywaddy, which formed in Leicester in 1973.

He said the band, which became famous for hits such as Under The Moon of Love, had the shirts taken after they fell from the back of a van in September 2022.

They went back to retrieve the stock, but found two cases had been taken.

His wife, Dawn Challenger, saw some of the missing merchandise for sale online and contacted The Salvation Army shop owner, Penny Bailey, who said the items had been left at a clothing bank.

Showaddywaddy's Under the Moon of Love reached number one in 1976

Mr Challenger said: "I was amazed to see it again. I'd sort of written it off.

"It was just weird that this stolen merch was not that far away from me.

"It was only right for us to give the proceeds back.

"It was doing something good anyway, especially when we didn't think we would see any of it again."

Shop manager Penny Bailey said she "immediately" offered to give the merchandise back to the band, after she heard it was taken.

"Romeo and Dawn were lovely and took the time to talk with excited volunteers and customers who were in the shop," she said.

"Romeo really wanted to support The Salvation Army for all of the work they do with the homeless and the cheque is part of that."